Shadow Puppets

Was it hell...my mate sent me loads of photos during the game. East Stand and Gallowgate were basically completely full. Leaves had that large pocket of about 1000 empty seats. Milburn Stand was full apart from the usual empty seats at the top of the platinum club. Level 7 looked basically full apart from pockets missing in the corner. bless, you’re in seventh heaven. No I’m not. I stayed away, just like everyone wants everyone to. But as predicted, staying away is a waste of fucking time. Honestly, it really is. There’s no desire at all for it on a large scale, and definitely not sustained. Today was the one opportunity people had to send a message and they didn’t. Because they wanted to go and support the team. That’s just not ever going to change while we’re in the premier league. I’ve said it a million times (but of course get labelled a WUM because my opinion varies to whatever is popular on here), but the only way Ashley will sell NUFC is if it becomes an inconvenience to him. Target the crap out of his businesses. Stop them from tweeting, Facebooking, sour their name even further. Picket the shops weekly. Ashley is under pressure from his shareholders, particularly at the moment. If they show concern that his running of NUFC is negatively affecting Sport Direct, he’ll be a lot more inclined to get out. Why didn't they bother then? Didn’t they? Sounded pretty loud first half. Flat, like the team, second.

Was it hell...my mate sent me loads of photos during the game. East Stand and Gallowgate were basically completely full. Leaves had that large pocket of about 1000 empty seats. Milburn Stand was full apart from the usual empty seats at the top of the platinum club. Level 7 looked basically full apart from pockets missing in the corner. bless, you’re in seventh heaven. No I’m not. I stayed away, just like everyone wants everyone to. But as predicted, staying away is a waste of fucking time. Honestly, it really is. There’s no desire at all for it on a large scale, and definitely not sustained. Today was the one opportunity people had to send a message and they didn’t. Because they wanted to go and support the team. That’s just not ever going to change while we’re in the premier league. I’ve said it a million times (but of course get labelled a WUM because my opinion varies to whatever is popular on here), but the only way Ashley will sell NUFC is if it becomes an inconvenience to him. Target the crap out of his businesses. Stop them from tweeting, Facebooking, sour their name even further. Picket the shops weekly. Ashley is under pressure from his shareholders, particularly at the moment. If they show concern that his running of NUFC is negatively affecting Sport Direct, he’ll be a lot more inclined to get out.

Was it hell...my mate sent me loads of photos during the game. East Stand and Gallowgate were basically completely full. Leaves had that large pocket of about 1000 empty seats. Milburn Stand was full apart from the usual empty seats at the top of the platinum club. Level 7 looked basically full apart from pockets missing in the corner.

First half we looked decent. Gave as good as we got. Nullified pretty much everything they had to offer. Looked pretty dangerous at times. But alas, didn’t score. Second half was just shit. Bruce’s substitutions played a huge part in that, but also an absolutely infuriating lack of ability from some players in not being able to play a simple pass. All in all I don’t think the performance was much different at all to various performances under Rafa against the bigger teams. I watched plenty of games under Rafa where we couldn’t retain the ball or get forward. What I didn’t see from Rafa very often though was completely mental subs, although he wasn’t without the odd moment of madness in that regard too. Hoping Bruce realises that he fucked up his sub selection today and doesn’t make the same mistake again. (Not holding my breath though)

I don't think anyone is struggling to explain the woeful second half I mean the substitutions were baffling. I could quite clearly see why it went to shit. Steve Bruce is the answer. I know. I still think his every word doesn’t deserve to be torn apart like, but that was shite!

I don't think anyone is struggling to explain the woeful second half I mean the substitutions were baffling. I could quite clearly see why it went to shit.

I’m not going to spin anything. I thought the first half was decent. Lively, although without many clear cut chances. Second half was woeful. Absolutely baffling.

My mate who’s there reckons there’s pockets of empty seats but estimates about 49k there.

I watched that too. He was definitely fucking joking man. Smiling the whole time he says it. It’s just a bit of shit banter with the interviewer. Nothing more. Nothing less. Overreactions are one of the foundations of this forum though. Horseshit Perfect example. Get tae fuck is it. I hope you die. ?

You do know that that’s not how we’ve been playing in pre season at all, don’t you?

I watched that too. He was definitely fucking joking man. Smiling the whole time he says it. It’s just a bit of shit banter with the interviewer. Nothing more. Nothing less. Overreactions are one of the foundations of this forum though. Horseshit Perfect example.

Like the rest of us, then. I still might. I haven’t decided yet.

I speculate that there’s an awful lot of posturing going on in this forum and on Twitter. I bet you come kick off that you’ll be watching the match one way or another.

Course they are. They're pandering to him in the hope he'll give them stories. Come on man. Cynical for the sake of being cynical.

Because like it or not, it does mean something to a lot of fans (especially older generations). It’s literally the only card he’s got to play coming into the job after Rafa. Of course he’s going to play that card. And there’s nothing really wrong with playing that card if it helps unite some of the fan base. But hey, as you know, I’m very much in the give him a chance camp. I know he shouldn’t be here, I know he’s never shown anything to suggest he is capable of managing us... but he’s here now and what’s the fucking point in whinging at everything he says...it’s not going to change anything. Just give him 10-15 games...see how he gets on. You never know...we might actually do well. Stranger things have happened in football. I’m still angry about the whole Rafa situation and the lack of takeover. But I’m trying to remain positive... because ultimately life’s too short to be so negative all the time. It really is.

I watched that too. He was definitely fucking joking man. Smiling the whole time he says it. It’s just a bit of shit banter with the interviewer. Nothing more. Nothing less. Overreactions are one of the foundations of this forum though.

Looking forward to this. Hoping for a win. Think realistically it’ll be a narrow defeat. Particularly looking forward to seeing Almiron, Joelinton and (if he starts) ASM. That’s a potentially very exciting front line right there. Wish I was going, in truth.

Are you sure you guys aren’t massively overreacting to those comments? If you watch him saying them in his press conference it’s clearly a joke and the press are laughing along with it.

I’m going to say at worst 48k.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7343745/Newcastle-United-shambles-they.html

Of course there's a likelihood that the players are wanting to remain positive. But I doubt very much that there'd be as many soundbites if the training was genuinely awful, or that his gameplans were bizarre etc. I'm generally a very positive person though, so I appreciate I'm fighting a losing battle on here trying to convince anyone that everything is anything other than awful. The way I see it, there is still a lot to support there. Some good players that I grew really fond of under Rafa... they're still there. Plus a few exciting signings (two of which look really promising on first viewing). And I will give Steve Bruce some time to see whether he has any ability to get the best out of them. Life's too fucking short to be angry all the time.

I haven't turned against Rafa at all. I love the guy. I'm just saying that maybe just maybe the players weren't as keen on him as we were. That's all! Or, at least, maybe there isn't as much to worry about moving forward as people think, if the players are impressed with Bruce and his team. I guess what I'm saying is, you can't just condemn any player who has a positive word to say about Bruce, and I personally still think Bruce deserves some support. I do believe he has the club's interests at heart. Whether he is good enough to achieve what we want to achieve, I doubt, but I still think he deserves support.

Without wanting to stoke your fires, are you going to add Hayden to the list too? He's done an interview on NUFCTV praising Bruce's influence and saying it's the fittest and most prepared the team has been for a season since he joined the club. Is he another one for your collective lists? Or is there actually something in what they're saying that might actually be true, as much as you hate it to be.

Ashley’s puppet? Who’s that referring to? At a guess............I'd say you. I thought so. I doubted myself because I didn’t really understand how childish you have to be to call someone Ashley’s puppet, just because you offer a slightly different viewpoint to the echo chamber of this forum. I’m no puppet to Ashley. I just think boycotts are a massive fucking waste of energy. Focus on getting at his businesses and make it an inconvenience for him to own the club. Having a few thousand empty seats is going to achieve fuck all. I agree with the ideology of a boycott, but the reality is a concentrated and sustained boycott is never ever ever ever going to happen. It just isn’t.

Ashley’s puppet? Who’s that referring to?